Chapter 287: In pain?
’’What? Why?" Si Yena did not answer and Chen Lina frowned, ’’Is it because of Lu Xian? Are you worried that he will see me?"
She paused for a moment before nodding to herself, "That’s a fact too. So far, he knows you are out against Ryle. So, he is not restless because he thinks that you get your revenge against Ryle and he gets Daisy. But if he knew what your intentions were, he might as well turn around and kill you. Don’t you think so?"
Si Yena was a little absent minded, her mind drifting off to the way he threatened her to stay in the bed, by his side, till he was awake. That scoundrel seemed rather serious about that, ’’Mm, I think so too,’’ she said when the silence stretched for too long.
’’But it is good this way. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see him in his current predicament. I saw it when you were bringing him over with you. He looked calm and acted calm but the more the exterior is like this, the further he is broken inside. But being the prideful man that he is, he would not let it show. You, however, should strike while the iron is hot. What you want, he will give it to you if you take it while he is vulnerable,’’ Chen Lina clicked her tongue, ’’Just the way Daisy trusted you with her bastard child in her vulnerability. People like them are only off guard when they are tormented, and in agony. Once they overcome their pain, their walls will be impenetrable.’’
Si Yena did not say anything, ’’You think he is in pain?"
’’Of course.’’
’’For a family as disjointed as that? A mother who was not his mother, a brother who never talked to him, and a father who was only ever concerned with profits?"
"People who have lived in the cold for too long would reach their hands in fire for the little warmth it provides, even if it burns them. Weren’t you in pain too, that night?"
...
Lu Xian was on a call when the door to the room was pushed open a bit abruptly. He paused, turned to look at the woman who entered before he continued talking over the call, ’’Alright, tell me when it’s done.’’
Si Yena paused when she saw the man sitting in her room, ’’What are you doing here?"
Lu Xian glanced at her like she was cracking a joke, ’’I asked you to wait.’’
’’Did they not show you the other room?" she frowned, ’’I told them...’’
’’Oh, I turned it down.’’
’’What for? Don’t tell me you missed me too much?" The frustration was gone in the blink of an eye and she opted for a nonchalant, flirtatious tone with the man.
’’If you want me to stay here, you have to offer something that interests me.’’
’’I interest you?"
’’A new room doesn’t,’’ he said calmly.
"Come with me,’’ she narrowed her eyes, ’’I hope you can say the same later on.’’
Lu Xian did not want to give in to her whims but she leveled him with a challenging gaze that made him get to his feet with an uninterested look on his face.
She led him through a few twists and turns, which was rather surprising for the place that had seemed small to his eyes before.
But soon, she stood in front of a room and opened the door for him. He strode in without putting any pretenses. The room seemed the same as hers on first glance, there was nothing different that she promised.
Except the second glance had him take his thoughts back.
Lu Xian walked towards the French window where a blank canvas was fixed. The whole setup was done in a way that seemed to be in harmony with the atmosphere outside the window.
Initially, he had not paid it much heed but the sound of crashing waves last night had him reflect on the fact that this hotel was located by the sea. But from her room, the view was barely good so he shrugged it off. But this place gave a distinct view of the sea.
’’What? Are you enamored?"
When he turned around, he found her still standing behind him, a smug look in her eyes.
’’What makes you think I would be fond of these things?" he straightened up, thrusting his hands inside his pockets, ’’Do you think I am five?"
"Are you saying you liked these things when you were five?" Si Yena scoffed. How pretentious a person can be. Had she not seen him giving the canvas and the sea that shimmering-eye-look, she would have probably taken his words for it.
’’Since you don’t like it, you can stay back in my room till you are here. I will stay here and paint instead.’’
Her words had him turn to look at her, ’’You know how?"
He watched with unblinking eyes as she approached the canvas and opened a color tube randomly. It happened to be a red one. She squeezed some on her palm and pressed it on the canvas, ’’There you go. Easy. No big deal,’’ she looked rather satisfied but then she saw that even her handprint looked ugly. She squeezed some more color, wanting to adjust the places where it had not touched properly but she halted, the sound of a deep laughter interrupting her actions.
Si Yena looked at Lu Xian who seemed to be stifling his laughter yet, with his shoulder shaking, and his eyes wandering, he seemed to be unable to do so.
She frowned. She had tried to entertain him in every way but he had to laugh at her failure? That was rather sadistic. Not that she was the one to say that.
Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt when the man stepped forward, his palm enveloping hers.
Lu Xian stood behind her and enveloped her body with his, while his finger slightly curved over hers, ’’I don’t who taught you to go like this but this is not the right way. He squeezed the red on the palette and dipped her finger in there, pressing down on it before he brought it back to the canvas.
Just as he was about to press her finger down on it white expanse, she flinched slightly and pushed his hand away.
